Thousands of Oklahomans Lose Health Coverage as INTEGRIS Health, United Healthcare Fail to Reach Agreement

The contract dispute leaves many without access to INTEGRIS Health hospitals and services.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Thousands of Oklahomans have lost their healthcare coverage after INTEGRIS Health and United Healthcare failed to reach an agreement by the Saturday deadline. The termination affects INTEGRIS Health hospitals, ancillary services, employed physicians, and joint venture partners, leaving many patients without access to the healthcare system.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in the healthcare industry, where contract negotiations between providers and insurers can have significant impacts on patient access to care. The inability to reach an agreement raises concerns about the affordability and availability of healthcare services for Oklahomans.

The details

INTEGRIS Health informed KOCO 5 that United Healthcare policyholders constitute more than half of their hospital's Medicare Advantage program. The hospital system claims that United Healthcare pays under 85 percent for their agreed commercial plan rates, which they argue is the lowest. Additionally, INTEGRIS Health reports nearly 1,500 denials or downgrades, resulting in a loss of about $5 million. United Healthcare counters that the 20 percent price hike requested by INTEGRIS Health would make it the most expensive health system in Oklahoma City, increasing the price of a C-section by approximately $2,500 and an MRI by about $500.

  • The contract dispute deadline was Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The players

INTEGRIS Health

A healthcare provider system in Oklahoma that operates hospitals, ancillary services, and joint venture partners.

United Healthcare

A major health insurance company that provides coverage to many Oklahomans.

Shaun Pryor

An INTEGRIS Health patient who expressed concern over the loss of coverage, citing his own health conditions.

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What they’re saying

“I have congestive heart failure, I have a-fib, I have an enlarged heart, and my mom is waiting for a heart transplant. And so, for me, this is health care that I absolutely need.”

— Shaun Pryor (KOCO 5)

“Despite our best efforts, INTEGRIS Health will be out of network with UnitedHealthcare after Feb. 7, 2026. We were optimistic that we had mutually acceptable deal terms late Thursday night, but by Friday afternoon, UnitedHealthcare reversed course and withdrew from agreed-upon terms. We are open to continuing conversations with UnitedHealthcare, but for now, we are at an impasse.”

— INTEGRIS Health, Officials (KOCO 5)

What’s next

INTEGRIS Health and United Healthcare have indicated they are open to continuing negotiations to resolve the contract dispute, but for now they remain at an impasse.

The takeaway

This contract dispute between a major healthcare provider and insurer in Oklahoma highlights the ongoing challenges patients face in accessing affordable and reliable healthcare coverage. The inability to reach an agreement underscores the need for greater transparency and collaboration between healthcare stakeholders to ensure Oklahomans can receive the care they need.